Trimming mechanism for bookbinding machines



Jan. 28, 1936- V P. E. KLEINEBERG TRIMMING MECHANISM FOR BOOKBINDING MACHINES Filed April 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 INVENTOIC k Mm ATTORNEYS.

J 1936- P. E. KLEINEBERG TRIMMING MECHANISM FOR BOOKBINDING MACHINES V Filed April 3, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: I ?al-sl 2 KW M EL R KM & MM"

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 28, 1936 UNiTED S'i'AT TRIMMING MECHANISM FOR BOOK- BINDING MACHINES Paul E. Kleineberg, Easton, Pa., assignor to T. W. & C. B. Sheridan Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 3, 1934, Serial No. 718,774

16 Claims.

This invention relates to bookbinding machines, and more particularly to mechanism for trimming'or cutting off the back edge of the book or group of signatures orsheets as a step in the process of binding the group into a book. This system for example is frequently used in the binding of pamphlets, telephone directories or other books, and can be otherwise used, as for uniting stacks of paper into pads. The assembled sheets or signatures are first trimmed at one edge, as the back of the book, and subsequently united by applying adhesive which is caused to enter into the back between the individual sheets so as to bind them securely by what is shown as flexible binding. The trimming mechanism of this invention however may have wider utility and may be used for example for trimming off the front as well as the back edge of a book, for the purpose of affording an even front, irrespective of the matter of binding the book.

The trimming mechanism of this invention is shown applied to that type of bookbinding machine wherein a succession or train of clamps is caused to travel around the orbit of the machine, so as to present the signature groups or books held in the clamps successively to the various mechanisms which perform the successive steps invoived in the binding system; although the travel may be by a straight line conveyor such as my Patent 1,811,201 of June 23, 1931 shows, or other means. Usually the first step after the infeed of the group into the conveyor or clamp and its adjustment and leveling in the clamp is the even trimming off of the back edges of the sheets or signatures so that the group will be in proper condition for the succeeding operations including frequently the grooving or roughening of-the-book back and the application of adhesive. Prior patents showing this type of bookbinding machine include Bredenberg No. 1,248,252 of November 27, 1917 showing a complete machine, and'Bredenberg No. 1,248,253 of the same date, showing a trimming mechanism wherein a moving band or disk knife is interposed in the path of the advancing book. These patents may be re- P'. nu

ferred to for many general features and details sively without requiring the stoppage of the machine. A further object is to insure a smooth and even trimming off of the back or other edge of the book. Further objects are to promote convenience of operation and adjustment to increase durability and minimize wear and to promote safety.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be explained in the hereinafter following description or will be manifest to those conversant with the art. To the attainment of such objects and advantages the present invention consists in the novel bookbinding machine or book trimming mechanism and the novel features of combination, operation and construction herein illustrated or described.

In the accompanying drawings showing an 11- lustrative embodiment of the principles of the invention Figure 1 may be considered a left elevation, partly in transverse section, of the trimming mechanism of a bookbinding machine containing the invention, the book being shown undergoing the trimming operation while traveling from the observer.

Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale shows in left elevation the essential parts of Fig. 1 adjacent to the trimming position.

Fig. 3, in a view similar to Fig. 2, shows an optional device operating beyond the main trimming point for shearing off the remaining few thicknesses of paper when the main trimming device is not adjusted to complete the cut.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the mechanism of Fig. 1 broken away at several points to disclose the details of construction and showing the optional shearing device beyond the main trimming point.

Figs. 5, 6 and '7 are diagrams illustrating the successive steps in the trimming process.

The book B is indicated in all of the figures as standing edgewise with the edge to be trimmed, usually the back edge of the book, projecting downwardly in a position accessible to the trim ming devices. It will be understood that the bound book might be passed through such a mechanism in an inverted position so as to trim off smoothly the front edge; or the trimming mechanism hereof might be duplicated or located above the book holding means so as to trim the uppermost edge of the traveling book.

As in said prior Patent No. 1,248,253, the machine hereof comprises a general base 9 on which are mounted a series of upright transverse frames II which support the various mechanisms of the machine. Extending frontwardly or outwardly ed on the base 9.

' from each frame are a series of upper and lower transverse brackets l2, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which brackets at their extremities carry upper and. lower clamp tracks or guides L3 in which travel the connecting and articulating parts of a train of traveling book clamps, each consisting ofzan inner or rear clamp plate i4 mounted directly on the articulated or guiding devices and a front or outer clamp plate l5 relatively movable to open the clamp to receive a book and to close upon and hold the book. Strong springs l6 apply the closing pressure, these being mounted on rods extending through to the outer clamp plate and being connected at their rear ends by a yoke Ill carrying a roller adapted to be thrust frontwardly and released rearwardly by fixed or other cam means to cause the opening and closing of the clamp'at suitable points of. its travel. Each of the frames H may be symmetrical and provided with brackets and tracks at the opposite side of,the machine so that the train of clamps may advance progressively around an endless orbit, each clamp opening for the delivery of each book and closing after the infeed of a new book to be treated. Extending longitudinally through the lower part of the several frames is shown a main shaft 20 from which is derived the travel, preferably continuous, of the clamp train, by connections not herein shown but fully disclosed in said prior patents.

The trimming disk or rotary cutting wheel 25 of this invention is shown as attached at the top side of a rotary table or support 26 from which the disk may be removed for renewal or replacement. On the principles of said Patent 1,248,253, means may be provided to grind or sharpen the disk during operation. The cutting disk 25 rotates and trims off the protruding edges of the signatures or sheets during travel of the book. It'is mounted at the front. or outer side of the book path and is preferably driven by power rather than relying on cooperation with the book to turn it. The table and disk are shown mounted in horizontal position at the top of a vertical shaft 21 turning in anupright carriage 28 mount- The disk maybe adjusted to correct position by horizontal and vertical adjustments of the carriage 28. Thus a threaded shaft or screw 29 is shown for shifting the carriage and disk adjustably frontward or rearward to determine the extent of the out and a second threadedshaft or screw is shown which may be turned to lift and lower the carriage and disk by a wedging action.

The trimming disk 25 is preferably turned by power so that its cutting edge or periphery moves in the same direction with the travel of the book,;

but at a substantially faster speed than that of .the book. The driving connections include a 36 from a smaller pulley 31 on the shaft of a motor 38. The motor may be mounted on an inclined bracket 39 adjacent to the carriage 26.

According to this invention, the rotary cut-' ting disk 25 cooperates with an opposed abutment or cutting support arranged longitudinally at the rear side of the book and clamp and shown in the form of a cutting bar or block presenting a solid flat backing in a vertical plane, the mid dle part of which receives the thrust of the cutting disk duringthe progressive cutting action.

' As shown the cutting abutment or bar 45 ispref erably recessed at 46 to receive the lower part plates 47. iently be interconnected and articulated by means of the rear clamp plate It, and thus receive the thrust both of the book and the clamp during the cutting. 7

While the abutment might in some cases be stationary, the clamp and book sliding along its vertical face, it is preferably a traveling abutment in the form of a longitudinal bar subdivided into a succession of individual blocks or These individual blocks may convenof a conveying chain 49 composedof upper and lower systems of links. Each of the blocks 41 is shown attached to a link by an angle piece 55, and as plainly seen in Fig. 4, the blocks are of such length and arrangement that they form a substantially solid cutting surface, but can separatefor their return motion. The pivots 5! of the conveyor chain 59 are shown provided with studs or rollers 52 which travel along a pair of fixed backing bars 54 mounted at the forward side of a heavy angle plate 55 which'is mounted adjustably, as seen in Fig. 4, upon a table 56 constituting the top of a fixed column 5! upstanding'from the base 9.

'In order to cause the travel of the abutment 45 in unison with the travel of the books and clamps, the conveying chain 48 is shown as driven from the same main shaft 26 that drives the. V

clamp train. The conveying ohain ds is double, comprising upper and lower links, and these are shown as traveling around horizontal sprocket wheels 59, two at each end of the conveyor travel. The second sprocket wheel is shown mounted at the top end of a shaft 60, the lower end of which carries a bevel gear 6| engaging with a bevel gear 52 mounted on a trans verse shaft 63 which at its rear or inner end carries a-bevel gear 64 engaging a bevel gear 65 on the main shaft 20. 1 a

It is desirable to apply pressure to the front lower edge of the book to confine it' toward the abutment and preserve the relation of the book to the trimming disk. For this purpose there is shown a confining means or disk at the front side of the book path, directly above and in fact in face contact with the trimming disk. The lower portion of the confining disk bears directly against the book while its upper part H is recessed so as to bear against the front side of the front clamp plate l5.

Preferably the confining disk is pressed with strong resilient pressure against the clamp. and book. The disk is mounted on a vertical shaft 12 turning in a head 13 mounted on an overhanging arm it extending rearwardly from a carriage 15 arranged to slide transversely ina dovetail slideway 16 formed at the upper end of abracket ll adjustably fixed to the carriage 28. For applying resilient pressure the front end of the carriage 15 is shown as having opposite de-' pending ears 18 each connected by a strong spring '19 with a fixed stud on the bracket 11. The springs thereby apply strong resilient rearward pressure to thrust the confining disk to the clamp and book. As each clamp passes beyondthe' cutting point the rearward pressure on the confining'disk is limited by a stop 50 which may be adjusted in accordance with the thickness of the book being trimmed.

While the trimming disk 25 might be so set as to contact with the abutment 45,,and thus complete the trimming out, prefer-ably the disk is set slightly forward so as to leave a small gap, which may be as small as inch or considerably smaller, thus avoiding contact between the sharp edge of the diskland themetal, fiber-or other; material of which the .abutmentis'cQmnesed. 'll-fhisileaves uncut -a fewthicknesses :or sheets {of the bmkras illustrated in :Figs. 1, 2 and :6. "Wheilithe :machine is so adjusted-and operated it -is.desirab1 e toprovide a device or,meansbeyondthetrimm n point for severing or shearing off the .thin .remainder of the trimmed :book, winch vis :a ,-re latively simple operation, not involving the {difficulties pertaining to the trimmin :of .a ,thick book.

,For the purpose ofpsuch supplemental or nompleting severance of the remaining sheets there is shown, beyond the trimmingipoint, aashe uing means comprising front and rear shearing disks .84 and 85 operating progressively during ;the travel :of the book between them. :A bracket :86 .is shown mounted on'thecolumn 55-1 and witha front :extension 8'! for supportin the rotary :shearsor-disks. The disk :85 is mounted :at the ,top of a vertical shaft -88, the lowerend-of which, as seen in Fig. 1, carries a sprocket wheel .89 driven through a sprocket chain .-9 .0 Tfromapspmck- .et vwheel 9! on the vertical shaft =60 which as already described is driven from the ,main shaft .20. The front shear disk -84 is :mounted on :a

, verticalshaft 92, the lower-end of-which carries .a-gear -93 engaging a gear 941cm :the'shaft '88 of the rear disk. :By this arrangement the shearing disks are driven at-a speed correspondingwith-the book travel in opposite ,directions as indicated bythe arrowsin Fig. 4. The-preferred arrangementof disks is, shown in Fig.3, the :front disk 84 having a flat top side over which :the trimmed book travels, the rear disk yaioverlagpping the front disk sufiiciently to trim 01T the remaining thicknesses of paper.

The operation has-been indicated :andtheprogressivesteps are shown in thedi igrams. Fig. 5 shows the initial conditionofthBzbDOk, while Fig. 6 shows the-condition after ,thezmain trimming by the disk 25 against abutment 45, and Fig. T7 shows the completion of the trimmin :by the shearing disks -84 and .85.

The invention may be summarizedasmomprising the combination ,of ,arotary trimming disk having a cutting edge and arranged atone :side of the book path of travel ,so-asrtomxtenidacross such book path, andat the opposite sidepf 1the book path a non-cutting abutment iarlfangedto support the book against the thrust of-Hthe disk during the trimming. By thisoperation the edge of the book is cut off by what may be termeda slicing action as distinguished from a shearing action, in the latter one cutting member passing by the edge of the other, while in the case of slicing, like cutting sheet material resting upon a fiat board, an edged cutting member is directed toward the face of the opposing member or abutment. Herein the abutment has been shown in the form of a longitudinal bar having a fiat face bearing against the book side toward which the trimming disk operates.

Having thus described a bookbinding machine with book trimming mechanism embodying the principles of the present invention, it is hereby stated that many matters of combination, operation and construction may be variously modified without departing from the principles, and it is not intended to limit the invention to such matters except so far as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a bookbinding machine mechanism operable upon successive books or groups advanced ,edg wise through th :fQr pro ressively trimmingamedge thereofduring'travel, ;compris ns ;means for holding,edgevvise {the books to be trimmed and ,advancing ithemjpast the trimming point, in combination :with a "sharp-edged ;rotary trimming :disk mountedat one side vof the :book path of travelto intersect such travel path, and at the opposite side of the book ,path ;a non-cutting abutment extending at both sides of thecutting plane to support :the book edge against the thrustiof the disk'during trimming-whereby the .book'edge is trimmedbya slicing action.

2. In a bookbinding machine mechanism operable aupon successive :books or groups advanced d wise :through :the 1machine for progressively trimmin an edge :thereof :during travel, ;comprisi g re :sharp-edged :rotary trimming 'disk mounted at :oneaside of the :book path of travel toiin erseot suchjtravel pathband at the opposite side of the ;book path a hon-cutting abutment extending at :both sides ,of the cutting plane to support the book :edge against :the thrust of :the disk adur ng trimmin :whereby :the back edge is trimmed :by :a slicin action; the abutment being a longitudinal :bar toward the, fiat face I of which the trimming ;disk;operates, :the bar giving resisti-n support "both :to the edge portion being put ;.Qff rand "theadj acent portion not. cut off 3. In a bookbinding machine mechanism operable :upon :successive groups of signatures ad vanced edgewise through the machine for .progressively trimming :the depending back edge thereof during travel, comprisingatrimming disk mounted at one side of the grouppath of travel, with :means 'f0l" rotating the .disk during cutting, and at :theqoppositezside of :thagroup path anoncuttin :abutment ,in the :form of a longitudinal bar :toward the "flat face of which the trimming disk operates, and the :bariextending both above and;below the cutting plane toisupport the book against the z-ithrust of the I disk during trimming.

"Il'lzfibOOkbiIldil'lE maChln having: a conveyor to clampand advancesignaturegroups with their back edges protruding downwardly, a mechanism operable upon successivegroups for progressively trimming ,an edge thereof during travel, comprising ,the :combination .of a rotary trimming disk having a cuttingedgea-nd mounted at one side of the group path of travel, with means for rotatingsaid disk to cause a slicing action, and atthe-oppositeside of the book path a non-cuttingiabutmentextended both above and below thescutting plane to support the book against the thrust ofithe-diskduring trimming, so that the diskpperates towardthe face of the abutment.

5. In a mechanism operable upon successive books advanced edgewise for progressively trimming an edge thereof during travel, a rotary trimming disk having a cutting edge and mounted at one side of the book path of travel to extend into cutting relation to such book path, with means for rotating said disk to cause a slicing action, and at the opposite side of the book path a noncutting abutment arranged to support the book against the thrust of the disk during trimming, so that the disk operates toward the face of the abutment; in combination with a train of clamps to carry and advance the books, and said abutment having a face portion supporting the book edge and another face portion supporting the clamp.

6. In a bookbinding machine mechanism operable upon successive books advanced edgewise through the machine for progressively trimming an edge or edges thereof during travel, compris- 'ing a rotary trimming disk having a cutting edge and mounted at one side of the book path of travel, and at the opposite side of the book path a longitudinally extending abutment means arranged to support the book against the thrust of the disk during trimming, consisting of a series of members each having a face extending to both sides of the cutting plane, and means for causing the series of abutment members to advance bodily with the book, whereby the edge of each advanc-- ing book is progressively cut off by a slicing ac tion against the face of the advancing abutment means.

'7. In a mechanism operable upon successive r books advanced edgewise for progressively trimming an edge or edges thereof during travel, the combination comprising a rotary trimming disk havinga fiat face and cutting edge and arranged at one side of the book path of travel to extend across such book path, and at the opposite side of the book'path a non-cutting abutment arranged to support the book against the thrust of the disk during trimming, said abutment extending at both sides of the plane of the cutting disk to support the edge both as to the edge portion to be severed and the adjacent portion, and

' a rotary confining disk engaging the flat face of the trimming disk and the edge of the advancing book.

8. In a mechanism operable upon successive books advanced edgewise for progressively trimming an edge or edges thereof during travel, the combination comprising a rotary trimming disk having a fiat face and cutting edge and arranged at one side of the book path of 'travel'to extend across such book path, and at the opposite side of the book path a non-cutting abutment arranged to support the book against the thrust of the disk during trimming, and a rotary confining disk engaging the flat face of the trimming disk and the edge of the advancing book,

and means pressing the confining disk resiliently V combination comprising a rotary trimming disk having a cutting edge and mounted atone side of the book path of travel, and at the opposite side of the book path a non-cutting abutment extending at both sides of the cutting plane to support the book edge against the thrust of the disk during trimming, the disk and abutment being spaced with a slight clearance to preclude actual contact and to leave a small fraction of the book thickness uncut, and means beyond said disk for removing the uncut fraction of the book edge.

removing means comprises a pair of shearing disks in the path of the uncut portion of the book and means for actuating them to shear off progressively such uncut portion during travel of the book. ,7

12. Book trimming mechanism comprising opposing cutter and abutment acting progressively to cut partially through the book from one side only, leaving an uncut thickness at the other side of the book, and, beyond both the cutter and abutment, independent opposing means for completing the cut. 7

13. Mechanism for evenly, trimming the back edges of groups of signatures or sheets preparatory to applying adhesive to unite them in a support against the cutting thrust the group edge including the part thereof being severed, whereby the cutting disk effects a slicing, non-shearing out against the face of the abutment.

l4, Mechanism as in claimi3 and wherein the abutment is a cutting block with a flat face extending above and below the plane of the cutting disk.

l5. Mechanism as in claim 13 and wherein the abutment is a cutting block with a flat face extending above and below the plane of the cutting disk, with means causing the, biock to ad- Vance with the group during trimming.

11. Mechanism as in claim and wherein the 16. Mechanism as in claim 13 and. wherein the 

